“I tell the students that it’s their money, their record, their college, and, therefore, their decision,” Mangold said.

Senior Garrett Kaighn, who will be attending Columbia University in New York City, also chose to take his AP Biology and European History tests, although he had already reached his credit cap through his AP scores in junior year.

He decided that even though AP European History teacher Daniel Neukom actively discourages his students from taking an optional AP test.

“I discourage them from taking the AP because it’s an unnecessary expense,” Neukom said. “I think it’s unforgivable that colleges encourage kids to take the courses and then don’t give credit for them.”

Like Quattlebaum, Kaighn attributes his decision mostly to his curiosity at how he would do, especially when there is no real consequence to not studying outside of the regular review session.

While a few students taking an optional AP is within the norm, Kevin Rossell is unusual. He’ll be taking five of them ($445): the AP European History, Biology, Calculus BC, English Literature and Composition and Physics C exams.

Rossell will attend Harvey Mudd College, which doesn’t offer credit for any AP. According to Rossell, Harvey Mudd offers no credit because it teaches all of its classes under the assumption that its students have already taken their AP precursors.

“Frankly, I’m a masochist,” joked Rossell.

“It’s five three-hour tests. The emotional pain is enjoyable for me.”

Much like other students who chose to take an unnecessary AP, Rossell didn’t study at all outside of his class review sessions.

But this is nothing unusual for Rossell, who, according to him, didn’t study at all for his AP’s the previous year and earned straight 5’s.

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